Colorado Rural Health Center Honors Basin Clinic During Safety Net Clinic Week

The Colorado Rural Health Center celebrated Safety Net Clinic Week with a special luncheon honoring Basin Clinic in Naturita for its exceptional service to rural Montrose County residents. The event recognized the clinic's designation as a CRHC Top 10 Rural Healthcare Facility for Overall Performance, bringing together clinic staff, community members, and local leaders to acknowledge the facility's dedication to rural healthcare.

Governor Jared Polis officially declared August 17-23, 2025 as Safety Net Clinic Week in Colorado, emphasizing that rural primary care safety net clinics make exceptional contributions to the health and well-being of Coloradans. The proclamation, available at https://coruralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/SNCW-Proclamation.pdf, underscores the vital role these clinics play in Colorado's healthcare ecosystem, particularly for underserved populations.

CRHC CEO Michelle Mills highlighted the essential nature of safety net clinics, stating they serve as critical access points for healthcare services in rural communities across the state. These facilities operate without supplemental federal funding while continuing to provide essential services despite facing significant workforce challenges, growing reporting requirements, and evolving payment models. Mills emphasized that in today's environment, the importance of quality care accessible to uninsured, underinsured, or publicly insured individuals cannot be understated.

Basin Clinic's recognition stems from its outstanding performance, as documented in the CRHC's official announcement at https://coruralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/CRHC-Top-facility-press-release-FINAL.pdf. Executive Director Christina Pierce expressed gratitude for the honor, noting that her team works diligently to fulfill their mission of providing exceptional, compassionate healthcare with limited resources and dedicated team members.

The clinic's life-saving impact was powerfully illustrated by Basin Clinic Board President Chris Daniels, who shared his personal experience as a patient. Daniels revealed that his life was saved because Basin Clinic was located in his community, stating that if he had needed transportation 25 miles to another town, he would not have survived. This reality affects many residents for whom travel to distant medical facilities is simply not possible.

Safety Net Clinic Week serves as an important educational opportunity for policymakers, healthcare advocates, and community leaders to understand the necessity of maintaining and supporting rural healthcare infrastructure. The annual celebration demonstrates how these clinics, despite diverse business models, share a common commitment to serving populations that might otherwise lack access to essential medical services, ensuring that geographic location does not determine healthcare accessibility for Colorado residents.